how many of you guys hunt open sight shotgun?

chuckmatlock · October 25, 2007, 08:04 AM

my old ted williams doesn't have anywhere to mount a scope so I will be forced to hunt open sight, now do I use buckshot or slugs?

Chuck

Full-choke · October 25, 2007, 08:09 AM

Well, I have hunted both, and my best suggestion is slugs. They are a little more predictable then buckshot in my opinion. Basically, the best thing to do is to get several boxes and shoot it at a target. Aim good and see what happens, It should group pretty good I would think, just base it off of that. Make sure the shotgun is able to shoot slugs though, don't pull a stupid move and run a slug through a full choke, you will regret it. My buddy did it once on an old single shot, blew the living tar out of that barrel and he thought he was certain to die.

F-C

mikejonestkd · October 25, 2007, 08:25 AM

Please check the hunting regs in your state concerning the use of buck shot. Some allow it and some don't.

Slugs are much preferred for deer hunting. It is safe to assume that you do not have a rifled barrel for the shotgun so stick with 'foster ' style slugs. Buy a few boxes of each brand and see which ones shoot best out of your shotgun. Some may like rem sluggers, other may like win, federals. Try each brand and stick with the most accurate one.

Your max range with iron sights and a smooth bore shotgun will probably be whatever range you can consistently hit a 6-8" circle. Anything farther than that would be unethical. For most smooth bore shotguns and iron sights this range is usually in the 50-75 yard range. YMMV though.

Foster slugs are just fine through any choke- even full, as long as the barrel is in good condition to start with. Until I got a cantilever scope mount rifled barrel for my 870 I used an improved modified trap barrel with good success out to about 75 yards.

Hope this helps.

FrontSight · October 25, 2007, 09:46 AM

used to, hope to never go back now that i have a scoped savage slug warrior...

nutty ned · October 26, 2007, 07:51 PM

Either, pattern them and use which ever shoots the best. Slugs if their accurate.

CamoCop · October 27, 2007, 01:05 AM

my state allows the use of rifles, so if i carry my shotgun it's loaded with buckshot...i don't have a use for slugs. with this being said, i use the factory open sights with buckshot.

jrothWA · October 27, 2007, 01:45 AM

they carry a receiver sight that mounts on the side allowing rifle rear sight for buck or slugs.

A Ted Williams should be a Winchester Model 1200, 1300 or 1400 auto-loader.
Check gun parts corp. catalog for listing of private marked firearms.

lockedcj7 · October 27, 2007, 08:30 AM

It depends...

If I'm still-hunting through brush, (or on a drive) I prefer buckshot and open sights since the action is likely to be close, fast and furious. If I'm hunting from a stand, I'd use slugs. Either way, shoot enough of them until you're confident of your ranges.

+1 on checking regs. Buckshot is legal in SC but not in TN.

FirstFreedom · October 27, 2007, 08:38 AM

I guess you're talking deer, but yes I do for turkeys use an open sight. Although I haven't yet, I'm thinking of trying to blood that same shotgun for deer with slugs, or an x-full choke and 3-OT buck with neck shots, after I first blood a few other rifles I want to try first. That shotgun has fiber optic front and rear.

October 25, 2007, 08:04 AM	#1
chuckmatlock Member Join Date: September 25, 2007 Posts: 44	how many of you guys hunt open sight shotgun? my old ted williams doesn't have anywhere to mount a scope so I will be forced to hunt open sight, now do I use buckshot or slugs? Chuck

October 25, 2007, 08:09 AM	#2
Full-choke Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 617	Well, I have hunted both, and my best suggestion is slugs. They are a little more predictable then buckshot in my opinion. Basically, the best thing to do is to get several boxes and shoot it at a target. Aim good and see what happens, It should group pretty good I would think, just base it off of that. Make sure the shotgun is able to shoot slugs though, don't pull a stupid move and run a slug through a full choke, you will regret it. My buddy did it once on an old single shot, blew the living tar out of that barrel and he thought he was certain to die. F-C __________________ TC Encore -6mm Rem Rifle; Ruger 10/22; Ruger 10/22 Ultimate; Stoeger Condor 20; ; Remington 1100 12; Stoeger 22 Luger; Taurus PT1911; Ruger SR40c God gave us the gift of life. It is the most precious gift ever. To be unarmed is to be helpless to protect that gift; that is outright irresponsible. - Ted Nugent

October 25, 2007, 08:25 AM	#3
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 3,717	Please check the hunting regs in your state concerning the use of buck shot. Some allow it and some don't. Slugs are much preferred for deer hunting. It is safe to assume that you do not have a rifled barrel for the shotgun so stick with 'foster ' style slugs. Buy a few boxes of each brand and see which ones shoot best out of your shotgun. Some may like rem sluggers, other may like win, federals. Try each brand and stick with the most accurate one. Your max range with iron sights and a smooth bore shotgun will probably be whatever range you can consistently hit a 6-8" circle. Anything farther than that would be unethical. For most smooth bore shotguns and iron sights this range is usually in the 50-75 yard range. YMMV though. Foster slugs are just fine through any choke- even full, as long as the barrel is in good condition to start with. Until I got a cantilever scope mount rifled barrel for my 870 I used an improved modified trap barrel with good success out to about 75 yards. Hope this helps. __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

October 25, 2007, 09:46 AM	#4
FrontSight Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2005 Posts: 1,712	used to, hope to never go back now that i have a scoped savage slug warrior... __________________ To kill something as great as a duck just to smell the gunpowder is a crime against nature. - Alan Liere Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve. - George Bernard Shaw

October 27, 2007, 01:45 AM	#7
jrothWA Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2006 Posts: 2,519	Look at Williams Gusight website... they carry a receiver sight that mounts on the side allowing rifle rear sight for buck or slugs. A Ted Williams should be a Winchester Model 1200, 1300 or 1400 auto-loader. Check gun parts corp. catalog for listing of private marked firearms.

October 26, 2007, 07:51 PM	#5
nutty ned Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2006 Posts: 765	Either, pattern them and use which ever shoots the best. Slugs if their accurate.

October 27, 2007, 01:05 AM	#6
CamoCop Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 133	my state allows the use of rifles, so if i carry my shotgun it's loaded with buckshot...i don't have a use for slugs. with this being said, i use the factory open sights with buckshot.

October 27, 2007, 08:30 AM	#8
lockedcj7 Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2007 Posts: 1,215	It depends... If I'm still-hunting through brush, (or on a drive) I prefer buckshot and open sights since the action is likely to be close, fast and furious. If I'm hunting from a stand, I'd use slugs. Either way, shoot enough of them until you're confident of your ranges. +1 on checking regs. Buckshot is legal in SC but not in TN. __________________ To a much greater extent than most mechanical devices, firearms are terribly unforgiving of any overconfidence, complacency or negligence.

October 27, 2007, 08:38 AM	#9
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	I guess you're talking deer, but yes I do for turkeys use an open sight. Although I haven't yet, I'm thinking of trying to blood that same shotgun for deer with slugs, or an x-full choke and 3-OT buck with neck shots, after I first blood a few other rifles I want to try first. That shotgun has fiber optic front and rear.